Possible Child Offender Adel Damani Executed in Chabahar

According to Haal Vsh, a Baluch man was executed in Chabahar Prison on 26 November. His identity has been reported as 25-year-old Adel Damani who is alleged to have committed a murder during a street altercation around nine years ago. He was sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind).

While document evidence of his age have not been published, the report states he was 16 years old at the time of the alleged offence.

At the time of writing, his execution has not been reported by domestic media or officials in Iran.

IHRNGO previously reported the execution of 17-year-old Hamidreza Azari in Sabzevar Prison on 24 November. Iran is one of the few countries in the world that still carries out the death penalty for juvenile offenders. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which the Islamic Republic is a signatory to, prohibits the issuance and implementation of the death penalty for crimes committed by an individual below 18 years of age. 

Those charged with the umbrella term of “intentional murder” are sentenced to qisas (retribution-in-kind) regardless of intent or circumstances due to a lack of grading in law. Once a defendant has been convicted, as the plaintiffs, the victim’s family are required to choose between death as retribution, diya (blood money) or forgiveness.

Ethnic minorities, the Baluch in particular, are grossly overrepresented in execution numbers in Iran. In 2022, at least 174 Baluch minorities including 3 women, were executed in 22 prisons across Iran, making up 30% of overall executions, while they represent just 2-5% of Iran’s population.